Stock-tank heater.



0. SUBBY.

STCK TANK HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1917.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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WITNESSES 0. SUBBY.

STOCK TANK HEATER.

APPUCATION FILED APR.9. 1917.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

OSCAR SUBBY, OF ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA.

STOCK-TAN K HEATER.

` Speccaton of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 24, 1918,

Application led April 9, 1917. Serial No. 160,785.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR SUBBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albert Lea, in the county of Freeborn and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStock-Tank Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stock tank heaters.

The object of the invention is to provide a heating device for stocktanks capable of being readily placed within the tank and having itsmajor portion located beneath the level of the water therein, in orderto maintain the latter at a temperature to prevent freezing when thetank is located in an exposed position.

Another object is to provide a heating device for the above purpose,which may be readily adapted for the use of oil as a fuel for generatingthe desired heat, or which may be readily arranged for the consumptionof other fuel, such as wood, coal, cob's, etc.; the device havingprovision forvsupplying fuel in a manner which obviates the necessityfor frequent attention in replenishing the same within the lire chamber.

A further object is to provideV means for controlling the drafts to thefire chamber whereby, upon starting a fire therein, air may be admittedbeneath the fuel to accelerate combustion, and, by manipulating certaindampers, the course of the air may be changed and admitted upon the topof the fire so that the latter will be checked and the heat confined tothe'. bottom of the device, where submerged, and caused to traverse aheat radiating member forming part of the device, to obtain a completecirculation of the heated water.

A still further object is to construct a heater of this class having ashell or casing composed of a single casting, thus dispensing withrivets, bolts, or other fastening means, which are liable to becomerusted and destroyed through the action of the water, and to provide aheater which is capable, when not desired for use as above described, ofbeing removed from the tank and installed for use in heating a room,barn, or other inclosure,A without the necessity for any changes oralterations whatever.

A full and complete understanding of the invention will be obtained upona consideration of the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification; it being understood that while the drawings show apractical form of the invention, the latter is not conlined to strictconformity therewith, but may be changed or modiiied as long as suchchanges or modifications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention, as specically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like partsin each of the several figures:

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved heater arranged for the useof oil as a fuel.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof, the oil supplytank being in elevation and shown in position within a stock tank.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, the oil supply tank being removed.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2,showing the device adapted for the use of fuel other than Oil andlocated within a stock tank.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the fire chamber, with the top removed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a stock tank heater of thesubmergible type,

lin which the entire casing, including certain radiating means to bereferred to, is preferably cast in one piece, thug eliminating allrivets, bolts or other fastening devices, which rapidly succumb to theaction of the water and render the device unfit for use. The casingincludes a vertically disposed tubular fire chamber 1 having a bottom 2and an open upper end and is adapted to be placedv within a water tank3. The bottom 2 is supported in spaced relation to the bottomof the tank3 by a leg member 4, thus providing a space beneath the fire chamber forthe free passage of water.

The chamber 1 is of suliicient height to extend above the maximum levelof the water within the tank and has means provided at its upper openend for the detachable and pivotal connection thereto of a lid orclosure 5. The lid 5, in the present instance, consists of a flat,circular cast iron plate,

having thereenertan means. for `central- ,passageway or ,port `7 isprovided at the lower vend ofthe air duct and connectsthe same `with thellower portion .of the tire chamber 1 1.

At a lpoint diametrically opposite from the air duct 6, a hollow.radiatingarm S is provided, which ,is cast integrally .with the lirechamber 1 and extends laterally a distance Iapproximately .equal ,to theheight oi' the ire chamber 1. The arm 8 may, however, extend a muchgreater or less distance and is of a width, .interiorly, equal-to thediameter of the fire `chamber .1. The arm 8 is joined to the firechamber `1 at a point substantially one third of the-height ofthe lirechamber, from the bottom thereof, and is adapted .to be supported latits outer end by a suitable leg 9 resting upon the bottom of the tank`Thus, the hollow arm 8 is supported a considerable distance #from thebottomotl the tank and permits of a volume of water to lie beneath thesame.

An upstandingtubular stack 10 `is cast integrally with the hollow.radiating arm at the outer end thereof, and communicates with thepassageway therethrough. This stack 10 extends upwardly a distance equalto the height of theftire chamber 1, and thus the upper end thereof islocated above the level of the water within the tank 3,. A suitablesmoke pipe 11 is applied to the upper end of the stack 10 and has asuitable damper 12located therein within easy reach of an operator.l

Vertically disposed .water passages 13 are cast integrally with thehollow radiating arm 8,the.diamcter ,of-said passages 13 beingconsiderably less .than `the width of the hollow arm `8, thus allowingample space i upon -yeither side of the passages 13 for 4theready,.egress of the .productsoi combustion from the fire chamber 1.that ,-aA column of water located `within the wallsof the passages will-be completely surrounded by the/heated products passing through thehollow `arm 8 and that @there will .bea ,constant tendency for theheated water to`rise therethrough, drawing other and lcolder watertherein, thus 4,causing a .constant `circulation,ot1 ,water Lwithin thetanln ltvwill, furthermore, be seen, ithat by y reason ,ofthe Vspacebeneath the I chamber .-1,

that-the action ofgthe ,iirewithiinsaid cham-` ber will lcause .aEsimilar i circulation of. the .Watelfballeath and around Lthe chamberIt will be seen Athe port 7 Jat the bottom of the air duct 6,

and which is adapted to permit the ready inflow of air through ithe-port-7 A grateimember l.16,of thesame diameter as the ashvreceptaclela, is adapted to abe supported by the topedges ofthe-walls-ot thelatterand tofbe spaced awaytherefrom by legs A1.7, thus-providinglairinlets elSitherebetween immediatelybelow grate.;bai's 419yin the grate niember'l and adapted to support the `rebed, .whensuchfuel as wood, coal, cobs, etc. is used. The grate member 16 is provided,around the top .edge fof its annular wall, with ia-.series .of Vspacedupstanding fngers 120 :adapted .to confine said fuel Within thegratemember 16, and at `the same time to permit of lthe yready. upwardpassage Vof the air currents .through and i around .the fuel.

A horizontally disposed lug-21. is l:termed on the `fire chamber 1,directlyeover the center line ofithe arm .8.and at a pointslightly belowthe top ,edgeiof thetire chamber 1, thus being located above the waterlevel `within the Atank 3.y This lug 21 is 4provided with `a vertically`disposed passageway -22 with which communicates `a slOt 23.

The lid `5, .shaped .f to fconitorm tothe outlines ofthetire chamberland the air duct l, extends slightly beyond the marginsthereof` .and isprovided `with la downwardlyextending pivotal post 2.4, adapted 4totraverso the passageway 22 and Vto permitl of theufeadyswinging-.movementof .the lid in either direction laterally; Thepivotal post 24: is providedatitsilower extremitywith an outstanding lug25, which,when,thelid 5 is ,properly .seated upon the -ire 4chamber 1,:is zadapted to prevent the remo-vallei the lid from its seat-byunderriding thelugl..

. When it is desired to. apply the lidto'the firechamber 1, or toremove:the same there. from, it is necessary toturn said lid-halfway around sothat the lug 2,5 will register with the slot `23, .the latter bei-ngdirected Vtoward the axis ofthe lirechamber @1. The pivotal post 2arextends,slightlyrabove the top sur- Suitableisliding,dampers27 and 28ofordinary construction, lare ,mounted `on the lid f l5 over-the,cente rsogf the -irechamber Land rthe airduct 6, respectively, and are adaptedtto regulate theintlow otairq'through suitable apertures,- inawell'knownmanner. A n

aperture 29 1s provlded in the lid 5 at a` point .adj acent to :thesliding dam-pen?? d.

thus communicates with the interior of the fire chamber 1. Theaperture-29 is preferably surrounded by an'upstanding annular wall,which is adapted to receive a plug 30 or other closure, when the stocktank heater is arranged for the use of coal, wood, or cobs, as a fuel,as indicated in F ig. 5 of the drawings.

Then it is desired to use oil as a fuel within the receptacle 1, the lid5 is swung to one side suliiciently to permit of the removal of thegrate member 16, and the ash receptacle 14:, preferably with a quantityof ashes therein, is left in position within the bottom of the firechamber 1. The plug 30 is then removed and an oil tank 31 is placed inposition upon the top of the Alid 5. The oil tank 31 which may be of anydesired capacity has, near the periphery of its bottom,

a downwardly extending post 32 suitably secured thereto. The post 32 isreduced at its lower end to enter the socket 26, thus locating the tank31 in proper position upon the top of the lid 5.l Suitably spaced legs33 carried by the bottom of the tank 81, rest upon the top of the lid 5,and in conjunction with the post 32, serve to maintain the tank 31 in ahorizontal position at all times. An oil outlet 34 having communicationwith the interior of the tank 31 and controlled by a valve 35 has aspout 36, which, when t-he tank is properly located, is in eXactalinement with the aperture 29 and will permit of the dropping of oiltherethrough into the interior of the lire chamber 1. Y

As before stated, a quantity of ashes is preferably left within thereceptacle 1li when it is desired to utilize oil as a fuel. A smallfire, such as supplied by the burning of paper, shavings, or `otherlikematerial, sufficient to ignite the oil as it drops through theaperture 29, is first started within the receptacle 14 and the lid 5closed, when continuous dripping of the oil will cause the steadyburning of the re at-the eXtreme lower end of the fire chamber 1.

In the event of it being desired to burn wood, coal, or cobs, or otherlike fuel, the grate member 16 is positioned within the lire chamber 1,the oil tank 31 removed as before explained, and the aperture 29 closed.lt is necessary in order to force the fire at the starting thereof, toclose the damper 27 at the top of the fire chamber 1 and to open thedamper 28 at the top of the air duct 6. This causes a downdraft of airthrough said duct k6 which air will travel about the burning fuelcontained within the grate member 16, part of the same entering throughthe air inlets 18, and thus up directly through the fire and on outthrough the hollow radiating arm 8 to the smoke pipe 11, where the draftmay be controlled by the damper 12, as desired. When the fire has gainedsufficient headway, the damper 28 in the air duct 6 may be closed orpartly closed, and the damper 27 opened sufficiently to cause adowndraft of air directly upon the fire, which will be checked thereby,and the heat confined to the lower portion of the fire chamber 1 and tothe radiating arm 8.

In the latter use of the device, the fuel after the lire has beenstarted may be piled into the fire chamber 1 to the top thereof, whenthe same will be fed to the lire as itis consumed thereby.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a stock tank heater formed of asingle casting has been devised, which is capable of manufacture at avery low cost, and which, being free from rivets or bolts or other partsli able to rust and destruction, is well adapted for use within a stocktank where it is necessary to submerge nearly the entire heating device.By means of the dampers 27 and 28, an operator is enabled to control thefire within the heater without the necessity for frequent attentionthereto and with an economical use of fuel. It will also be seen thatthe device may be readily set up for use elsewhere than in a tank.

Another use that the device is capable of is that the same may be ofservice for cooking, as the hollow radiating arm 8 is formed with a flattop so that food stuff or the like can be placed uopn this arm and theheat circulating therethrough will radiate through the top, for thecooking of such food stuff. It will be noted that the arm is of a widthsubstantially equal to the Width 100 of the fire chamber, thereby givingthe maximum heating surface at its top, while the tubes 13 arevertically disposed to provide passages for the circulation of airtherethrough when the device is used for cooking 105 purposes.Additionally, the device may be used as a heating stove for rooms or thelike, and such use will be clearly obvious.

What is claimed is zv 1. A stock tank heater comprising an up- 110 rightlire chamber, an upright smoke stack spaced laterally therefrom, and ahollow radiating arm connecting the lire chamber and smoke stack toconduct the products of combustion from the fire chamber to the smokestack and provided with upright tubes through it, thearm being locatedintermediate of the height of the fire chamber so as to be below thewater level when the heater is placed in a stock tank, and substantiallyequal in width to the diameter of the Ere chamber, said arm being flaton top for the purpose set forth.

2. A stock tank heater comprising an upright tire chamber, an uprightsmoke stack spaced laterally therefrom, and a hollow radiating armconnecting the lire chamber and smoke stack to conduct the products ofcombustion from the fire chamber to the smoke stack and provided withupright tubes through it, the arm being located intermediate of theheight of the ire chamber to be located below the water level when theheater is placed in a stock tank, the lire chamber, radiating arm andsmoke stack being all made in one piece.

3. A stock tank heater comprising an upright lire chamber, an uprightsmoke stack spaced laterally therefrom, and a hollow radiating armconnecting thc fire chamber and smoke stack to conduct the products ofcombustion from the lire chamber to the smoke stack, said arm being fiaton top and provided with a plurality of vertical tubes formed integrallytherewith, which are open at the top and bottom and are less in diameterthan the width of the arm, said arm being located intermediate of theheight of the lire chamber, so as to be disposed below the water levelwhen the heater is placed in a stock tank, and also being substantiallyequal in width to the diameter of the fire chamber, said arm beingclosed at all sides and having the stack opening into the top thereof atthe outer end.

4. A stock tank heater comprising an up right lire chamber, an uprightsmoke stack spaced laterally therefrom, and a hollow radiating armconnectingthe iire chamber and smoke stack to conduct the products ofcombustion from the lire chamber to the smoke stack, said arm being flaton top and provided with a plurality of vertical tubes formed integrallytherewith, which are open atthe top and bottom and are less in dia-meterthan ,the width of the arm, said arm being located 4intermediate of theheight of the fire chamber, so as to be disposed below the water levelwhen the heater is placed in a stock tank, and also being substantiallyequal in width to the diameter of the re,

chamber, supporting means at the outer end of said arm, said arm beingclosed at all sides and having the stack-opening into the top thereof atthe outer end, said re chamber, and said stack and said hollow arm beingall east in one piece.

5. A stock :tank heater comprising a casing forming are chamber open atits top and having an air duct leading from the open top forcommunication with the chamber near its bottom, a lug vformed on thecasing near the top, a lid iitting upon the top for closing the chamberand air duct and having a post removably and rotatably engaged in thelug, said lid being formed with an aperture for communication with thechamber, an oil tank having supporting legs and a post, the legs restingon the lid and the post detachably engaged with the aforesaid post, andvalved outlet means extending from the tank over the aperture forsupplying oil from the tank through 4said aperture to the interior ofthe chamber.

6. A stock tank heater comprising a casing forming a fire chamber openat its top and having an air duct leading from the `open top forcommunication with the chamber near its bottom, a lug formed on thecasing near the top vand .provided with a vertical passage, a lid fittedupon the top for closing the chamber and the air duct and having a postremovably and rotatably en gaged in the passage in said lug, slidabledampers carried by the lid for controlling the air from the chamber andair duct, said lid being formed with a walled aperture for.communication with the chamber, an oil tank having spaced legs and apost engaged with the lid and iirst named post, respectively, and valvedoutletmeans extending from the tank to the walled aperture Jforsupplying oil through said `aperture to the interior of the chamber. A

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

OSCAR SU'BBY.

Witnesses: Y

NORMAN E. PETERSON, ELMAL LIEN.

Copies of this patent may he ,obtained `for Vive cents cach,byaddressing the .Commissioner of retentit Washington, 1)..0.

